REPUBLICAN PLATFORM

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1932, Page 7

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM

CONTENTIOUS LIQUOR PLANK

INDIVIDUAL STATE ACTION

SILVER CONFERENCE PLAN

EXTENSIONS OF TARIFFS

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

Chicago, June 15.

Republicans foregathered at the convention stadium for about an hour, demonstrated for 20 minutes for President Hoover, and then adjourned until after dinner to-night. The adjournment was made necessary by the resolutions committee’s failure to reach a final agreement on the wording of the prohibition plank. It was hoped an agreement will be reached before the night, or the issue would take an open floor. The “Wet” forces promised an exciting fight should this be done, but there was some reason io believe that any pugnaciousness would be promptly “steam rollered.”

Before the dinner hour, however, the resolutions committee announced that the party platform would include a controversial prohibition plank which will be opposed by the “Wet” forces on the floor of the convention. The plank advocates a prompt submission by Congress of a new amendment to the States which, if ratified by three-fourths thereof in special popular constitutional conventions, will permit each State to handle the liquor traffic as it chooses, the Federal Government pledging to protect “dry” States against liquor infiltration from outside.

INFLATION OPPOSED. The platform expresses opposition to currency inflation, advocates an international conference on silver and the extension of the tariff further to the primary products. It recommends American entrance to the World Court and expresses the hope that the Geneva conference will effect a general limitation of armaments. It advocates strong measures against crime, particularly the activities of ‘‘kidnappers, racketeers and gangsters.” Unofficial “Dry” organisations declared that they were dissatisfied with the prohibition plank but will reserve action until after the Democratic convention meets.

The demonstration for President Hoover, of whom there was not even a single picture hung in the huge hall, bore at its inception all the signs of a preconceived performance carefully managed, but it gained spontaneity with momentum.

Governor Rolph, California delegate, led the march of the States, even Wisconsin joining in. There are no radical groups at the convention this year, the La Follette and Brookhart following 'being defeated for control of their State delegations. The platform outlines the efforts of President Hoover and the administration to combat the economic depression, noting with approval the getting up of agencies by the Government to deal with conditions, and the need for revision of the banking laws to place the banking structure on a sounder basis. The platform mentions the work of the Farm Board and praises the national policy of land utilisation which looks to national needs. “LIMITATION OF WAR.” The platform favours “the settlement of international difficulties by conciliation and method of law, and the limitation of war as the resort of national policy, which has been and will be our party programme.” After a stormy session lasting until after one o’clock on Thursday morning, the convention by 672 votes to 471 defeated the minority committee’s report embodying the so-called repeal of the prohibition plank, says a later message, Then a viva voce vote adopted the committee’s platform, including the so-call-ed submission plank, the reading of which by the chairman (Mr. ’Garfield) was continually interrupted by jeers and boos, apparently mostly from the galleries.

Delegations of various “wet” States, including New York, Illinois, and Nevada, staged a parade for repeal. There were scuffles among several delegations where preference was divided, the “wets” attempting to carry the State banner into the convention. The galleries became more unruly, There were cries of “We want repeal, no bunk!” Prolonged cheering followed the organist’s playing such tunes as “How Dry I Am,” which was Mr. Al Smith’s campaign song in 1928. The chairman limited the debate on prohibition to two hours, one hour each to the Repealists and the Submissionists. Messrs. Butler and Bingham led the repeal attack. They demanded the people . should have the right to vote “Yes” or “No.” on prohibition. Mr. Ogden Mills (Secretary of the Treasury) and other Hoover supporters pleaded for party harmony and acceptance of the committee’s report. The convention adjourned late on Thursday morning, the remainder of the business being largely routine. General Charles G. Dawes’ refusal to accept the Vice-Presidential seat virtually assures the re-nomination of Mr. Charles Curtis.